SJP CONSULTANCY

GLOBAL FEE PAYMENTS, REFUNDS & CLIENT FUNDS POLICY

Policy Reference: SJP-FPRP-2026

Effective Date: 1 January 2026 (Supersedes all previous fee schedules, refund guidelines, and financial terms)

Issuing Authority:
Simon Jason Price,
Managing Partner – SJP Consultancy

Contracting Legal Entity: SJP Consultancy, including Simon Jason Price, and all subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, directors, employees, contractors, accredited agents, and third-party representatives.

Relationship to Master Terms:

This Policy forms an express, integral part of the master SJP Consultancy Global Terms and Conditions of Engagement (Ref: SJP-TC-2026) and operates in full conjunction therewith.



  1. SCOPE, LEGAL EFFECT & INTERACTION WITH MASTER TERMS

1.1 Unconditional Application: This Fees, Payments, Refunds & Client Funds Policy (“Policy”) applies unconditionally and universally to: (a) all individual, commercial, corporate, or institutional clients, as well as their designated representatives or intermediaries (collectively, “Client”, “you”, or “your”), engaging or requesting professional services from SJP Consultancy (“SJP”, “we”, “us”, or “our”); and (b) all officers, directors, partners, employees, contractors, accredited agents, and consultants acting on behalf of SJP.

1.2 Binding Contractual Incorporation & Precedence: This Policy forms an integral, legally binding component of all client engagements, Statements of Work, Fee Proposals, engagement letters, and service contracts entered into by SJP. Where specific fee schedules or customized commercial arrangements are executed in a written engagement letter signed by Simon Jason Price, those terms shall supplement this Policy. Where any ambiguity or dispute arises regarding financial terms, this Policy shall govern and operate in harmony with SJP’s Global Terms and Conditions of Engagement (Ref: SJP-TC-2026-V1), without duplicating or invalidating the general legal covenants contained therein.

1.3 Cross-Border & Universal Jurisdiction Application: This Policy governs all financial interactions, retainer management, fee accruals, and disbursement handling across all operational jurisdictions, regardless of the Client’s physical location, domicile, tax residency, transaction currency, or chosen payment channel.

1.4 Deemed Irrevocable Acceptance: The Client’s authorization of payment, transfer of funds, execution of an engagement document, or verbal/written instruction directing SJP to commence work constitutes immediate, absolute, and irrevocable acceptance of all financial provisions set forth in this Policy.

  1. PROFESSIONAL FEES, RETAINERS & DISBURSEMENTS

2.1 Advance Retainer & Payment Prerequisite: SJP operates under a strict, non-negotiable full advance payment rule. SJP is under no legal or operational obligation to initiate research, draft documentation, allocate personnel, instruct external advisors, or make administrative submissions until all requested professional fees and disbursement retainers have been received in full as cleared, unencumbered funds in SJP’s designated bank account.

2.2 Nature and Accrual of Fees: All professional fees remitted to SJP represent direct compensation for SJP’s specialized expertise, strategic analysis, administrative management, document preparation, and business resource allocation. Fees are deemed fully earned immediately upon receipt in consideration of SJP reserving capacity and committing professional resources to the Client’s instruction. Fees are strictly non-contingent upon any outcome, statutory approval, procedural timeline, or administrative decision by third-party authorities.

2.3 Dynamic Fee Structures & Quoting: Fees are determined based on matter complexity, jurisdictional risk, procedural urgency, required seniority of personnel, and overall commercial liability exposure. SJP reserves the right to issue supplementary invoices or adjust quotes if the underlying factual context changes, if the instruction requires emergency handling, or if unforeseen regulatory obstacles arise.

2.4 Third-Party Costs & Out-of-Pocket Disbursements: SJP’s professional fees are strictly exclusive of third-party expenditures and official disbursements. The Client assumes sole financial liability for all external fees, including but not limited to:

      • Government statutory fees, visa application charges, consular fees, and registry levies;
      • Official court filing fees, judicial fees, and tribunal costs;
      • Independent legal counsel fees, external barrister retentions, notary public fees, apostille certifications, and sworn translations;
      • Specialized courier services, secure postal charges, and diplomatic transmission costs; and
      • Third-party background checks, expert reports, valuation charges, and statutory verification fees.
  1. PERMITTED PAYMENT METHODS, CLEARANCE & AML COMPLIANCE

3.1 Approved Payment Channels: Payments must be rendered in the currency specified in the invoice or proposal via: (a) direct bank wire transfer (BACS, CHAPS, SWIFT, SEPA); (b) verified corporate credit/debit card processing gateways; or (c) authorized digital payment platforms (e.g., Wise, Stripe). Cash transactions are restricted, strictly monitored, and subject to prior written approval from Managing Partner Simon Jason Price in full compliance with United Kingdom and international Anti-Money Laundering (AML) statutory thresholds.

3.2 Transaction Charges & Currency Conversion Surcharges: The Client warrants that it shall bear all transaction overheads, including sender bank wire fees, intermediary banking charges, credit card merchant processing surcharges, and currency conversion losses. SJP must receive the exact net sum invoiced.

3.3 Legal Definition of Cleared Funds: Funds are deemed ‘cleared’ only when irrevocably credited to SJP’s account, unconditional, free of bank holds, and fully confirmed by SJP’s financial institutions.

3.4 Financial Crime & AML Warranties: The Client warrants that all funds utilized for payment are lawful, free from third-party encumbrances, and fully compliant with applicable global anti-money laundering regulations, economic sanctions, and tax laws.

  1. CANCELLATION, REFUNDS & CONSUMER RIGHTS COMPLIANCE

4.1 Strict Non-Refundable Policy: Subject only to Section 4.2 below, ALL FEES, RETAINERS, AND PAYMENTS REMITTED TO SJP ARE STRICTLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY NON-REFUNDABLE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no full or partial refunds shall be granted for:

      • Rejection, refusal, dismissal, or delay of any application, appeal, visa, or filing by a government authority, embassy, consulate, or court;
      • Changes in applicable statutory laws, immigration rules, diplomatic policies, or regulatory frameworks occurring after engagement;
      • Client decision to withdraw, cancel, postpone, or alter instructions due to personal, commercial, or financial reasons; or
      • Changes in personal, health, medical, employment, or marital circumstances affecting the Client.

4.2 Statutory Consumer Rights Compliance (Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013): Where the Client engages SJP as a individual ‘Consumer’ (acting outside its trade, business, craft, or profession) via distance or off-premises communication:

   (a) Statutory Cooling-Off Period: The Consumer possesses a statutory right to cancel the service contract within 14 calendar days from the date of engagement (‘Cooling-Off Period’) without giving any reason.

   (b) Express Request for Immediate Performance & Waiver: Where the Consumer requests SJP in writing to commence professional services immediately during the 14-day Cooling-Off Period, the Consumer acknowledges and agrees that: (i) if the service is fully performed within the 14 days, the statutory right to cancel is fully lost; and (ii) if the Consumer cancels prior to complete performance, the Consumer shall pay SJP an amount strictly proportional to the professional work performed up to the moment of written cancellation notification.

4.3 Exceptional Ex-Gratia Discretionary Payments: Any ex-gratia financial refund or partial concession offered by SJP shall remain at the absolute and sole discretion of Managing Partner Simon Jason Price. Any discretionary gesture shall be exceptional, shall not set a precedent, and shall be contingent upon the Client executing a formal Deed of Release releasing SJP, its partners, and employees from all past, present, and future claims.

  1. PROHIBITION OF CHARGEBACKS, RECOVERY LIABILITIES & DEBT INTEREST

5.1 Express Covenant Against Chargebacks: The Client explicitly agrees and covenants NOT to initiate, request, or facilitate any chargeback, payment reversal, merchant dispute, or payment hold through its bank, card issuer, or merchant processor. Initiating a chargeback without prior written authorization from SJP constitutes a material breach of contract, intentional financial tort, and breach of good faith.

5.2 Comprehensive Dispute Indemnity: In the event of an unauthorized chargeback or payment reversal, the Client agrees to fully indemnify SJP on a full indemnity basis for: (a) the complete contract value; (b) all administrative and staff time spent investigating and defending the chargeback (billed at SJP’s standard hourly rates); (c) merchant penalties, bank fees, and processing charges; and (d) all legal fees, debt collection agency commissions, and court costs incurred in recovering cleared funds.

5.3 Statutory Interest & Debt Recovery Action: SJP reserves the right to pursue formal recovery action globally. Overdue sums and chargeback liabilities shall accrue statutory interest pursuant to the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 (for commercial clients) or common law interest (for consumers) at a rate of 8% per annum above the Bank of England base rate, together with statutory debt recovery costs.

  1. HANDLING OF THIRD-PARTY DISBURSEMENTS & CLIENT MONEY ACCOUNT NOTICES

6.1 Facilitation Role for Disbursements: Where SJP receives funds earmarked specifically for onward transmission to official government registries, courts, or accredited third parties, SJP acts solely as a payment facilitator.

6.2 Client Money Status Notice: Unless explicitly governed by a formal statutory trust agreement, all advance payments received by SJP represent advance professional fee retainers for committed services and are not held as statutory client money. Third-party disbursements are held in operational disbursement accounts pending onward transmission.

  1. CLIENT OBLIGATIONS, WARRANTIES & CONFLICTS

7.1 Mandatory Client Duties: The Client warrants to: (a) provide truthful, accurate, complete, and non-misleading information and documentation; (b) disclose all facts material to the matter; and (c) adhere strictly to procedural deadlines and instructions.

7.2 Consequences of Breach: Failure to satisfy Client duties entitles SJP to suspend or terminate services immediately. SJP accepts zero liability for missed deadlines, rejected filings, or financial losses caused by Client delay, misrepresentation, or omission.

  1. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY & FINANCIAL RISK ALLOCATION

8.1 Unexcluded Liabilities: Nothing in this Policy excludes or restricts SJP’s liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any statutory liability that cannot be lawfully excluded under the laws of England and Wales (including mandatory statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015).

8.2 Complete Exclusion of Consequential Loss: Subject to Section 8.1, SJP shall under no circumstances be liable to the Client, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), or statutory duty, for any loss of profit, loss of revenue, lost commercial opportunity, reputational harm, indirect loss, or consequential damages.

8.3 Absolute Financial Cap on Liability: Subject to Section 8.1 and Section 8.2, SJP’s total aggregate liability arising out of or in connection with any engagement or financial transaction shall be strictly capped at and limited to the total professional fees actually received by SJP from the Client for the specific instruction giving rise to the claim.

  1. CONFIDENTIALITY & DATA PROTECTION (UK GDPR)

9.1 Data Protection Compliance: SJP maintains strict confidentiality over client affairs and processes personal data in full compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Personal data shall not be disclosed to third parties except as strictly necessary to fulfill Client instructions, enforce debt recovery, or comply with statutory court orders or AML legislation.

  1. SEVERABILITY, SAVINGS CLAUSE & THIRD-PARTY RIGHTS

10.1 Severability: If any court or competent authority determines that any provision or sub-clause of this Policy is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, that provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to achieve legal enforceability, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

10.2 Exclusion of Third-Party Rights: Pursuant to the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999, no third party who is not a direct party to the engagement shall possess any right to enforce any provision of this Policy.

  1. UNILATERAL POLICY AMENDMENTS

11.1 Policy Revisions: SJP reserves the right to amend, modify, or replace this Policy at any time. Published revisions on SJP’s official channels automatically bind all ongoing and future engagements.

  1. GOVERNING LAW & EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION

12.1 Governing Law: This Policy, all service agreements incorporating it, and any contractual or non-contractual disputes arising therefrom shall be governed strictly and exclusively by the laws of England and Wales.

12.2 Exclusive Court Jurisdiction: The Client irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales for the resolution of all financial, contractual, and legal disputes, waiving any objection based on venue or forum non conveniens.

  1. OFFICIAL CORPORATE & REGISTERED BRANCH CONTACT DETAILS

United Kingdom (Global Registered Office):

SJP Consultancy
156 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1LS, United Kingdom
Email: contact@sjpconsultancy.com 

Vietnam Representative Office:

SJP Consultancy
54, Street 9, KDC Van Phuc City, Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Email: contact@sjpconsultancy.com

FINAL CLIENT ACKNOWLEDGMENT & DECLARATION

BY REMITTING FUNDS, PAYING AN INVOICE, OR ISSUING FORMAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SJP CONSULTANCY (SJP), THE CLIENT EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGES AND DECLARES THAT:

      • FULL UNDERSTANDING: They have read, fully understood, and irrevocably agreed to be legally bound by this Policy and SJP’s Master Global Terms and Conditions of Engagement (Ref: SJP-TC-2026);
      • NO GUARANTEE: They acknowledge that SJP provides professional time, strategic management, and administrative advocacy, but offers zero guarantees regarding third-party sovereign or government decisions;
      • NON-REFUNDABLE & CHARGEBACK PROHIBITION: All fee payments are final, strictly non-refundable (subject to statutory consumer cooling-off rights where applicable), and completely exempt from credit card or bank chargebacks; and
      • EXCLUSIVE UK JURISDICTION: They unconditionally submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales for all legal and financial matters.